Posted in Life

No middle name

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

I do not have a middle name.

Instead, I have a suffix. I am the third, named after my father and my grandfather. Since

The absence of a middle name causes plenty of consternation among those who like to fill in all the boxes. Some have filled in III as my middle name. I once used Q as a middle initial when I needed three letters for a login. NMI is another popular choice.

Since my dad died, I don’t use III after my name very often. It still shows up on tax forms and passports. But it’s not on my driver’s license. Some like to include it on certificates. They can’t spell or pronounce my last name, but they love the suffix.

I do not meet many who share my lack of a middle name. Many even give their pets middle names. I enjoy that uniqueness. I also love to ask those who like my suffix, “What was my father’s name?” And then, “What was my grandfather’s name?” Some get it. Others are confused. I just chuckle.